Azalea plant named Charly

ABSTRACT

An azalea plant named Charly characterized by its red flower color, very large flowers which are semi-double in form, excellent growth habit, ease of propagation, early response, and its ability to grow and blossom at relatively low temperatures.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofRhododendron L, commonly referred to as azalea, and known by thecultivar name Charly.

In 1972, applicant began a planned breeding program in Babenhausen,Federal Republic of Germany, which program had the general objective ofcreating new azalea cultivars having early response and having thecapability of developing and blossoming at relatively low temperatures,for example, temperatures as low as in the range of 5°-6° C. A furtherobjective of the breeding was to develop a cultivar having relativelyintense pink flower color. These desired characteristics in combinationwere not present or were in need of improvement in previously availablecommercial cultivars.

The breeding program above described resulted in the cultivar Luci, anintense pink color azalea disclosed in applicant's pending application.

The new cultivar Charly was discovered by me in 1978 as a mutation ofLuci, growing in a group of plants of the parent cultivar in agreenhouse in Babenhausen, Federal Republic of Germany. The distinctlydarker blossom color, tending more toward scarlet than pink, wasimmediately apparent. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar wasaccomplished when vegetative cuttings were taken by me later in 1978 ina controlled greenhouse environment in Babenhausen, Federal Republic ofGermany. Subsequent examination demonstrated that the combination ofcharacteristics as herein disclosed for Charly are firmly fixed and areretained through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

Charly has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, andmay also vary through the application of growth regulators. Thefollowing description is based on plants of the new cultivar grown inBabenhausen, Federal Republic of Germany under greenhouse conditionswhich approximate those generally used in commercial practice.

The traits listed below have been repeatedly observed and are determinedto be basic characteristics of Charly, which in combination distinguishthis azalea as a new and distinct cultivar. It should be noted thatexcept for its substantially darker flower color, Charly is similar inmost respects to its parent cultivar Luci.

(1) Red flower color, and a floriferous flowering habit.

(2) Blossoms are semi-double in form, and very large, reaching adiameter of up to 12 cm. The size of the blossoms depends on when theplant is pinched, how the plants are nourished, and the growingconditions, e.g. light intensity and day length. Growth regulators suchas alar can reduce blossom size by up to one third.

(3) Easy to propagate, with the roots of the cuttings developingquickly.

(4) With proper pinching, a symmetrical and relatively large, yetcompact, plant is developed.

(5) Excellent growth habit, even during the low light and lowtemperature conditions of winter greenhouse cultivation.

(6) Early response, with plants having buds showing color and ready tobe sold in as little as approximately 130 days after pinching, duringhigh light periods. Low light and temperature conditions, and the use ofgrowth regulators, e.g. alar, can delay flowering several weeks.

(7) The early response is not significantly affected by low temperation.Although temperatures such as 5°-6° C. slow the development and responseto some extent, the low temperature response of Charly is excellentcompared to existing varieties. From an energy standpoint, this is asignificant characteristic.

(8) Color intensity is strongest during August to October. With shorterdays, the color is somewhat faded. The blossoms retain their color forapproximately 14 days before fading, but remain attractive for 3-6weeks.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Charly, with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. At the top of sheet 1 is acolor photograph of Charly, in top perspective view in pot form. At thebottom of sheet 1 is a comparison color photograph, in plan view,showing typical blossoms of Luci and Charly. The flower color of Charlyas depicted in the comparison photograph is slightly more red than theactual flower color, which appears in the top perspective view. However,the color values stated below are correct.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart, and were taken in Babenhausen,Federal Republic of Germany.

Classification:

Botanical.--Rhododendron L, cv Charly.

Commercial.--Pot azalea.

PLANT

Growth habit: Good to excellent, developing rapidly and symmetricallywith adequate pinching into a wide and bushy plant with averagecompactness. Requires pinching earlier and more often than other azaleacultivars of this general type, with 3-5 pinches producing a symmetricaland relatively large plant. The cultivar is particularly resistant tolow temperatures, growing well even during winter conditions of lowlight and low temperatures in the range of 5°-6° C.

Branching: Satisfactory to very good. After the first pinching, youngshoots begin to grow quite rapidly early, and in large quantities,particularly after additional pinchings.

Response period: The response period is very short for this type ofcultivar. The response varies considerably depending upon light andtemperature conditions, and the application of growth regulators. Forplants pinched in mid-May for the first time, plants having buds showingcolor and ready to be sold are available approximately 130-135 dayslater. Where growth is under less light and lower temperatureconditions, the response period may be up to 130-150 days, and theapplication of alar for growth regulation can delay the response periodfor up to 7-8 weeks.

Ease of propagation: Good to very good. Cuttings root quickly andfirmly.

Buds: Generally elliptical in shape. Plant may be cultivated withoutbreak and blossoms regularly. A particular advantage of the cultivar isthat bud development proceeds in low temperature conditions, forexample, at approximately 5° C. This low temperature development is notcommon to most azalea varieties of this type. But development is fasterat higher temperatures.

Leaves: Young shoots are green to reddish in color, changing to amid-green in young and a darker green in fully grown leaves; color undersurface of young leaves is light green, and mid-green on fully grownleaves. Fully grown leaves are convex, and generally oval in shape,terminating in a rounded point. The fully grown leaves are slightlyshiny on the top surface, and the overall length and width of the fullygrown leaves are generally average for this type of azalea.

BLOSSOM

Shape and size: The blossoms have the shape of a wide horn, and aresemi-double and very large, reaching a diameter of up to 12 cm. Thediameter of the blossoms depends on the extent of pinching, growingconditions, and nourishment. Generally speaking, late pinching and lowlight conditions will result in blossoms having a relatively smallerdiameter. The blossoms tend to reach their greatest diameter duringperiods of high light and long day length. The diameter of the blossomsare adversely affected by growth regulation, such as treatments withalar, which treatment is recommended only for small plants. The blossomsare carried on relatively long stems, 1.0 to 1.5 cm., and in view of thesize and form of the blossom, there is a tendency for the blossom tohang or bend somewhat on the stem. This characteristic can be controlledby pinching.

Color: The color is red 53D on the top and under surfaces of theblossoms, with red spots a little darker than 58B appearing irregularlyon the petals. The throat of the blossom is a somewhat brighter 58B onthe inside (top), and somewhat lighter than 58B on the outside (bottom).

Temperature tolerance: The development and maturing of the blossoms isnot significantly impeded at relatively low temperatures, an importantcharacteristic of the cultivar, although optimum temperatures forblossoming is in the range of 12°-18° C., having regard to energy costsand optimum blossom characteristics. For example, during the period fromNovember to January, the time for developing blossoms from buds showingcolor was approximately 16 days at approximately 15° C.

Normal blossoming period: From the end of August to mid-November,although year around flowering is achieved by greenhouse cultivation.

Blossom life: Blossoms hold their red flower color for approximately 14days, after which the blossoms begin to fade in color. The intensity andluminosity of the red color is strongest from August to October, and asthe days get shorter, the red blossom color is somewhat less intense.The blossoms remain attractive for approximately 3-6 weeks, dependingupon geographical location and season.

Corona: Relatively long, 5 in number, with the tip of the corona beingrelatively wide.

Reproductive organs: The reproductive organs of Charly are notdistinctive.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of azalea plant named Charly, asdescribed and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its redflower color, very large flowers which are semi-double in form,excellent growth habit, ease of propagation, early response, and itsability to grow and blossom at relatively low temperatures.